403 citations
,
November 2005 in “Journal of Endocrinology” Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a prohormone important for producing sex steroids and has potential health benefits.
65 citations
,
April 2018 in “Oncotarget” Anabolic androgenic steroids can increase cancer risk and disrupt hormones.
46 citations
,
September 2011 in “Journal of Endocrinology” Natural 5α-reduced glucocorticoids might be anti-inflammatory with fewer side effects than current options.
November 2023 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” Some people experience lasting sexual, psychological, and sleep problems after using finasteride or SSRI antidepressants, possibly due to similar underlying causes.
219 citations
,
January 2006 in “Drug Metabolism Reviews” DHEA affects multiple receptors and may help with metabolic issues, but its safety and effectiveness in humans are unclear.
16 citations
,
October 2017 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology/The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology” Dutasteride may protect the brain in early Parkinson's disease.
31 citations
,
November 2014 in “Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science” A natural steroid in the body may protect against eye damage in glaucoma.
16 citations
,
November 2018 in “The journal of pain/Journal of pain” 14,15-EET may help reduce poststroke pain by affecting certain brain proteins.
6 citations
,
February 2019 in “Scientific reports” A brain-produced steroid causes increased scratching in mice with a skin condition similar to eczema.
24 citations
,
May 2015 in “Schizophrenia Research” A drug improved schizophrenia-like symptoms in stressed rats by changing brain steroid levels.
2 citations
,
February 2003 in “Annals of Neurology” Neuroimaging suggests that treatments targeting brain steroids could help control epilepsy, especially types linked to the menstrual cycle.
12 citations
,
June 2019 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Allopregnanolone is needed for certain brain processing issues caused by D1 dopamine receptor activation.
January 2026 in “Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience” Neurosteroids like neuro-estrogen and neuro-androgen are crucial for brain function and can improve cognition and protect against aging-related decline.
36 citations
,
June 2001 in “Neuroscience Letters” Finasteride may affect fetal brain development and increase arousal, but more research is needed for safety confirmation.
March 2025 in “Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism” Rodent models of PCOS show some hormone changes similar to humans, but also have key differences.
13 citations
,
January 2020 in “Neuroscience” Blocking 5α-reductase can harm memory and brain structure, and increase harmful brain changes in male mice used for Alzheimer's disease research.
November 2025 in “Molecules” Microextraction techniques improve hormone testing while being environmentally friendly.
25 citations
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June 2017 in “Neuropharmacology” Increasing TSPO in the brain reduces anxiety and depression.
25 citations
,
January 2017 in “Steroids” Allopregnanolone increases growth and changes gene activity in human brain cancer cells.
19 citations
,
December 2019 in “Steroids” Finasteride and dutasteride reduce neurosteroid production, possibly helping treat glioblastoma.
19 citations
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July 2005 in “Steroids” Testosterone increases 3α-androstanediol levels, which can be blocked by finasteride.
4 citations
,
May 2024 in “Steroids” The method accurately measures sex hormones in human plasma but can have small errors.
29 citations
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June 2004 in “Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior” Finasteride reduces alcohol withdrawal effects, especially in female mice.
20 citations
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October 2018 in “Clinical Drug Investigation” Dutasteride does not impair mental function in elderly men with enlarged prostate.
January 2013 in “Yearbook of Urology” Former finasteride users showed higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts compared to those who never used it.
31 citations
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January 2017 in “Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology” Low testosterone and 5α-reductase inhibitors can harm men's metabolic and sexual health; testosterone therapy may help, but discussing 5α-RIs' side effects is important.
2 citations
,
December 2019 in “Neurobiology of Stress” Changing allopregnanolone levels in baby rats affects their adult behavior and alcohol use.
December 2020 in “Current Sexual Health Reports” Finasteride can have lasting negative effects on brain function and behavior by disrupting neurosteroid production.
269 citations
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May 2002 in “Journal of Neuroscience” Stress increases neurosteroids that help prevent seizures.
60 citations
,
January 2023 in “Biogerontology” Adequate testosterone is crucial for men's health and quality of life, but its decline with age needs more research.